Biodegradation is the biologically mediated transformation and mineralization of organic or inorganic substances by microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and archaea, often via extracellular and intracellular enzymatic pathways. It proceeds through sequential steps including depolymerization, primary degradation to smaller intermediates, and ultimate mineralization to CO₂, CH₄, H₂O, inorganic salts, and biomass under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. In environmental and engineering contexts, biodegradation governs the fate of pollutants, natural organic matter, and synthetic materials, and is a central process in bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and life-cycle assessment of chemicals and polymers.
That kitchen sponge sitting by your sink is not as innocent as it looks. It could be harboring Salmonella enteritidis, E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus—and there's no way to tell just by looking at it or smelling it.
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 27, 2026
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Scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute have developed a biodegradable implant designed to deliver cancer-fighting immunotherapy drugs directly into tumors over an extended period, a strategy that could improve ...
Bio & Medicine
Jul 27, 2026
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Earlier toilet training and new recycling technologies are among expert-backed solutions to reduce the environmental impact of disposable diapers and other hygiene products, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.
Environment
Jul 23, 2026
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14
A moth caterpillar identified by the agribusiness sector as one of the most destructive pests of soybean, cotton and corn crops may harbor fungi and bacteria in its gut that can degrade expanded polystyrene, also known as ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 23, 2026
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Scientists at Murdoch University have read the full genetic code of bacteria from the salt lakes of Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), giving them their clearest picture yet of how these tiny organisms could be used to make biodegradable ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 20, 2026
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11
Bacteria can defend themselves against antibiotics with the help of an enzyme released by dying cells, according to a study by a team from the Institute for Biological Physics at the University of Cologne and Wageningen University ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 16, 2026
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Untreated synthetic dye effluents severely threaten aquatic ecosystems by blocking sunlight, depleting dissolved oxygen and releasing compounds with potential ecological toxicity. Among the various treatment strategies, biological ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 13, 2026
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Decaying matter shapes life in soil, but it can also create hostile zones for growing roots. Professor Jiří Friml of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) and international collaborators have now identified ...
Ecology
Jul 9, 2026
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29
The ability of bacteria to remove pollutants from soil, water, mine waste and other environments could be supercharged by a "friendly" compatible virus, according to a study led by Flinders University. The new insights, published ...
Ecology
Jun 30, 2026
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9
A spray made from a biodegradable polymer capable of capturing and redirecting water to crop seeds could be the key to drought-proofing Western Australian farms.
Agriculture
Jun 24, 2026
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